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You might have noticed that the last month has been a little bare on this blog. The truth is I'm not too sure what to write. I have photos ready to go from things I have sewn or cooked, and plenty of ideas in general. All I need to do is write a few words and post to keep with my weekly schedule. The thing is I'm debating whether or not to focus on just dressmaking, or to continue to include other areas too.

This week's post is based on questions that have been emailed to me about learning to sew. (TheSnobbyFoodie.... This means you!) As I sat down to answer these I thought that some of you fellow seamstresses might have more to add too, so please lend your thoughts in the comments box, or feel free to add other questions too!

I'm not even sure I should be revealing this recipe as it could well be my undoing. This pasta recipe is my signature dish, the one everyone requests when they come over for dinner, the one I'm asked to bring along to other people's houses for dinner, the one I turn to when I need comfort food.

This is the first pair of jeans that I have attempted to make. As a follower of many other sewing blogs I've seen masses of Ginger jeans that look great but way too much for me to still have fun with. Up until now I haven't felt that my skill set is up to working with denim, fly zips, or all that beautiful topstitching that you see on jeans. As well as getting them to fit well! The thing is, the skill set still isn't really up to all these things, but this pattern looked like it could circumvent most of that.....

I have recently realised that I have made a number of pretty dresses that I don't wear very often. I love making them, but think I should direct my sewing efforts to more day to day items. So this autumn I pledged to myself to make no dresses, only casual wardrobe and work items. Then I tuned in to the Sew Over It vlog and saw the launch of the My Capsule Wardrobe; City Break ebook, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist it for long. I didn't. In fact my resistance threshold must have been pretty low that day because I then added a whole bunch of fabric to my basket - enough to make a top, dress, jeans and coat in fact. However, all this is totally wearable everyday right? So fits with my autumn pledge. I plan on having a go at all the patterns in the eBook, but have started out with the Molly top and dress (I know I just said no dresses, this is different though....)

Okay, it’s quite clear that I enjoy making patterns from
Tilly and the Buttons….because they are so straightforward! I had my eye on
this Megan dress ever since I opened up her book ‘Love at First Stitch’, mainly
because it looked so pretty and hey, I get to make a dress! I traced off the
pattern a very long time ago and then became distracted with other projects for
special occasions. Finally I got back to Megan, and decided to make a dress for
work. I needed a new dress that was comfortable, conservative and with a small
sleeve; Megan definitely fits the bill on this front. However, I ended up
making an alteration I didn’t need and now wish I hadn’t.

PS - I've revisited this and made improvements...almost all photos are from my edited version. Details in italics at the end!

Photograph courtesy of Naomi Neoh. Dress featured is Margot, from the new 2017 Eden Collection

Whilst catching up with my newly married cousin we got to talking about the whole choosing a wedding dress process, and how there was so much we didn't know before we started. Some of it was surprising, and in some cases how it all works made a big difference to the choices we made. So here are all the things nobody tells you until you start looking!

In my first year of sewing what I've learned a lot. Some of it has been the hard way from mistakes, some of it I found through copious reading online...some things I tried then quickly realised they weren't that successful! Here's the top 10 I would go back in time and tell myself a year a go....

Fabric choice is crucial

The pattern you choose will have fabric suggestions. Use these as that's how the pattern has been designed. Then think carefully about the properties of the fabric you are using....this can massively impact how easy it is to sew the garment. Cottons are nice to work with, especially cotton lawn. Stretch fabrics such as jersey require a different approach, as do sheer and slippery fabrics. If you aren't sure which fabric to use The Fold Line have a really handy article for this.

Look around

Before I start any project I have a look at what other people have done for ideas and to see which parts are tricky. I look on Pinterest, The Fold Line, fabric and sewing blogs, and a good old Google search. I use a lot of indie patterns (I like their instructions more) and often these have links to other people's makes for inspiration.

Wash fabric before making

It might shrink, so what's the point in making something that won't fit after one wash?

Enjoy the leisure of marking, cutting and pinning

I am impatient. I rush to get to the sewing machine. This is a mistake. Every time I try to cut corners cutting or pinning I have to spend twice as long unpicking my stitches. Enjoy this for its own pleasure instead! I use lots and lots of pins when I'm working with slippery fabrics.

.....and don't forget to transfer markings to both sides of the fabric! On my first Francoise dress I marked the darts on one side only...so obviously I then had to go back and redo everything so it matched properly.

Tacking in place is not a waste of time

Especially for zips! Some of the tutorials I've followed for zips assume you can pin then stitch away. I sometimes get my zips placed wrongly and only realise once it's sewn, so this helps with that. It also makes it easier to get really close to zip teeth in invisible zips if the zip is already in place.

Sometimes you can skip backtacking

Every time you stitch you are meant to backtack a couple of stitches to stop the line unravelling. If a line of stitches is going to cross over another line, this will perform the same function. If you are in a rush then it isn't essential.

Learn to love the iron

I used to hate ironing. Pressing is a whole different thing though. Pressing as you sew makes sewing easier, and makes the garment look like it's meant to.

Make hems easier

I spend a long time pressing hems under using a seam gauge to measure how far to fold. Lately I have built in a step in the marking and cutting process to make this easier. When I'm tracing off a pattern I mark the hemline on the pattern, and trace this onto the wrong side of the fabric in dashed lines using a tracers wheel. The wheel creates a line that helps with folding anyway, and the carbon gives a visual guide. Now, it is important to evaluate your potential hem once the garment is constructed, as this can affect the hemline...but you can adjust for this. If you don't have to then it makes turning under, pinning and pressing much faster and easier.

Also, you can buy something called Wondertape. This is double sided tape that will dissolve in the wash. I used it for hems on my chiffon pussy bow blouse because the fabric would not press neatly.

Find patterns without fastenings

If you want to make life easy, and sew speedily, avoid buttons and zips. There are lots of patterns you can use that don't have either (like the Bettine dress). There's nothing wrong with these elements per se, but they cause me a lot of heartache and stitch ripping (mainly zips to be honest!)

Invest in good tools

Don't 'make do' with blunt scissors or needles. There are some things you can go without or substitute (like pattern weights...I use tealight holders) but your key tools need to be sharp.

Plus one more for good luck....

Check you have threaded your machine properly

Every time that my machine has jammed it is because I haven't threaded the machine properly, or kept hold of thread tails as I started sewing. Sometimes if this happens it is quicker to take out both the bobbin and the thread, and start setting up the machine again from scratch (rather than spend ages attempting to rectify without re-threading).

If you are thinking of making anything in a delicate fabric you need to know this! Silk, satin, georgette, lace, chiffon...these are all beautiful but, I have discovered, require some specific handling. These fabrics are often not cheap either so making errors can be costly, as well as just heartbreaking as a seamstress. I love wearing sheer fabrics and when I took up dressmaking I had grand visions of whipping up dresses like these floaty numbers....

...and then realised that this wasn't as easy as I first thought. It is doable though so long as you know these key tips and tricks!

Earlier this month (oops, last month now) vlogger Hollie from Hollie sews posted The Seamstress Tag, for sewing vloggers and bloggers to learn a little bit more about each other. I've been enjoying getting to know more about the bloggers I already read, and have been discovering new vlogs that I hadn't come across before.....and now I'm throwing my hat into the ring!

Every year I have a special day out in London with my Mum in the summer. This year we booked tickets to see the exhibition of Her Majesty's dresses as part of the Buckingham Palace tour, and I had a look around for some tempting lunch offerings to book. Obviously after a morning at the Palace we would want to continue our elegant day of refinery so I was on the lookout for a luxury hotel or Michelin restaurant. I usually start with Bookatable to compare the various deals that are on, and through there booked a 3 course lunch at Fera in Claridge's. The offer I booked included a glass of champagne and three snacks for £45 per person. If you are wondering what a Michelin starred lunch in a 5 star hotel looks like then read on...

I could find nothing at all for the wedding I was going to
in Italy. NOT ONE THING that fit nicely! Whilst bemoaning this fact to my
husband he piped up that maybe I should make myself something. So I did. I
always like a full skirted dress at weddings and decided to use the Sew Over It
Betty dress pattern for my wedding guest outfit, as my previous Betty had gone
together quite nicely.

You will be forgiven for wondering what on earth gnudi are. Everyone says to imagine spinach and ricotta ravioli without the pasta and I find that's close but if you then head a little more towards gnocchi you are pretty much there. I like them because they can be made with very little flour, so contain fewer carbs than my usual pasta fest (not that carbs are the enemy but every now and again it's not what you really need). This makes them light and perfect for a summer dish. Traditionally you find them served with a sage butter sauce and lashings of Parmesan. I've added some twists to the classic version by frying some, and by making a tomato sauce instead of a butter one. Frying the gnudi brings out the cheesy taste of the Parmesan. Try both versions and tell me what you think!

This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Sew Essential, the online sewing superstore. If you need anything sewing related, they've got it. I'm still discovering sewing suppliers so when they dropped me a line I headed over to the site and was surprised to see just how much there was in one place. Most of the sites I visit usually focus on beautiful fabrics, indie patterns and habby items to finish a project, but this one also includes a massive pattern database, pattern making tools and a range of machines themselves (including next on my wish list - an overlocker). There's also a haberdashery that contains things I didn't even know existed....water soluble thread for instance. I was looking to have a try at a lace dress to wear on holiday so was mainly concerned with finding a suitable pattern and reasonably priced fabrics. I decided that the New Look 6261 had all the key pattern features I was looking for, with lots of opportunity to vary the pattern depending on fabrics and occasions.

Afternoon tea is definitely on my list of preferred activities when catching up with family and friends. Clearly I'm not alone as practically everywhere has some variation on offer. I have tried teas locally to where I live, but the choice on offer in London is by far superior. You can have tea in a renowned and luxurious hotel such as the Ritz, or a quirky affair such as the Mad Hatter's tea at the Sanderson. Though I enjoy and appreciate the unusual concoctions of teas like the Sanderson's, my heart truly lies with the tradition and grandeur of the luxury hotels. So, when catching up with my cousin (also a food blogger) recently in London, afternoon tea at the Dorchester was an instant yes for the pair of us.

Last summer I made a no pattern maxi dress that was perfect for my holiday. I received so many comments whenever I wore it that I thought I'd have a go at another one. This time around I was looking to make something

with straps,

that could double up for day and evening wear at home as well as on holiday

Today's post is a guest feature courtesy of the fabulous Claire from Penguin and Pear and she is bringing us essential techniques for sewers. She has brought together a fabulous Facebook community for sewing bloggers, and her own blog is always full of useful tips and reviews. Check out her blog (which includes my own guest post on essential summer dress patterns) and social media from the links below...enjoy!Three important techniques every sewist should know

The amount of information out there for people new to sewing is immense and it is hard to pick out the stuff you definitely need to know versus the stuff that is nice to know (or, indeed, unnecessary). That’s why today I am bringing to you three mini-tutorials on sewing techniques that will help you to become a professional dressmaker:

If you are looking to go out for a special meal then this is definitely one to visit. Last week we had a celebratory lunch at Great Fosters in Surrey, and I have to say it was delicious, with wonderful customer service too. We will definitely be returning.

'Now this is my kind of style'…That’s what I thought when I
saw this pattern in the online shop. I have a few fit and flare dresses lurking
in the wardrobe and really wanted to make my very own. This dress has a nice nipped in waist and vintage style full circle skirt. I know that this pattern
also has downloadable neckline and sleeve variations but I loved the v back so
much I thought that it was best to keep this as its key feature. This was also my first attempt at a full circle so I thought it best to keep it simple for what I knew would be the first of many!

I see traditional beef lasagne on lots of menus and in supermarkets, and I know it's popular but here's the thing.... The lasagne you know is not the lasagne I know. I come from a large Italian community and though everybody has their own special twist there is one thing they all have in common... no white sauce on top. Maybe it's because most of our families are from the South of Italy and this makes a difference? In any case I've tried both and this is by far the best home cooked version I've ever had. It is definitely has a depth of flavour that is always a winner. So of you want learn how to make lasagne like the Italians really do then have a go at this!

This is another vintage inspired pattern from Sew
Over It. It’s a knee length dress with delicately gathered at the sleeves and
bust areas. The waist is defined and, when put together with the V shaped neck
and gently flared skirt, gives a feminine and flattering silhouette. It’s also
fairly straightforward to put together! This is the first of many I feel.....

Having recently come back from a fabulous wedding abroad, and having had one myself, I thought some lessons learned might be helpful for anyone else out there thinking of jetting away for their nuptials. Destination weddings lend a perfect opportunity to surprise your guests with something a bit different, in a place you truly love. We found it helpful in creating an intimate, low fuss wedding and we knew we would be (pretty much) guaranteed fabulous weather. Did we know anything about getting
married abroad? No. Was there any more 'wedmin' than a traditional wedding?
Probably not…there are just different things to consider…….. Read on for all you need to know to begin to plan your destination wedding.

From the moment I opened Fashion with Fabric I wanted to make this. It looked beautiful and I didn't have a kimono jacket in my wardrobe yet, but had seen lots of beautiful ones worn by friends (so obviously I had to get one too). In the book it was described as something that would be suitable for beginners, and was based on a 'three hour slouchy cardigan'...so looked entirely doable for me. As it turns out it was doable, but not in a short space of time (because of my inexperience with the fabric really).

Do you find that you go through the day feeling sluggish,
bloated and tired? I do, a lot and I hate it. So I decided to think of natural ways to improve my energy levels...and hopefully shift a couple of unwanted pounds for the summer. Changing what you eat can have a massive impact on energy
levels, keeping you on a steady burn rather than careening through highs and
lows all day. There are lots of books and articles that give lists of foods
that are ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or trackers with points etc.

However, I think life is complicated enough, and I need something simple that is easy to follow, so I've stripped it all back to 5 fundamentals…. the basic principles to eating for a steady energy release, and a flatter tummy!

I bought a triple pack of patterns from By Hand London, one
of which being the Victoria Blazer (and another being the Anna dress whilst it
was still available on paper). I was drawn to the casual fit of the blazer and
like the three variations that you can create with the pattern, even though it
was rated above my skill level. I chose the cropped variation for my first
blazer so that I could throw it over summer dresses at the many christenings I
was invited to and also wear it with jeans for barbecues….and ended up wearing
it all summer.

This month’s Sewing Made Simple
magazine and my first print publication:

Clearly a notable feature to be mentioned off
the bat is an article written by yours truly! (more on that in a bit)

Sewing Made Simple is a
‘bookazine’ that is released every 8 weeks. It includes patterns and
dressmaking tips (and is particularly good for those of us just starting out,
wanting to make clothes that fit current fashion too). I like to look in
magazines like this one, and their sister publication ‘Love Sewing’, mainly for
inspiration and simple patterns I can actually complete. I was completely
surprised to be asked to write an article…writing for anyone other than myself
is something I had never considered. Obviously I agreed before they could
change their minds, then started thinking about how I would actually transition
from blog to print.

You can create fabulous photographs for your blog without spending a penny. Yes, for free. When I started blogging I had no idea how important, or difficult, it was to create stunning images to enhance content and engage readers. As you can probably tell it's something I am still working on! (Seriously, have a look at what I did a year ago to recently). I look a lot at what other people create online and try to figure out how they managed it. At first I was a little disheartened because a lot of what I see on popular blogs comes from bloggers who have come with amazing skills in photography, along with equipment and software that I'm frankly not able to invest in to the same level. I had to figure out some alternatives for creating blog images on a budget instead. Here are my 5 golden rules.

Entering the world of sewing and dressmaking is incredibly exciting, but somewhat daunting too. There is a whole new language to learn, and a fair amount of equipment that you need to get making. You can have a read of some ways to get into sewing on this blog and decide for yourself but one thing I have noticed, whether starting with a book or a course, is that there are always lists of what you need. Which is great, but... I never really knew if I was getting the right thing, and have spent money on equipment that isn't up to the job. So, here is my ultimate guide to what you need to start sewing. I am going to be really specific, based on what I have found works well. I am not being sponsored for anything here so if I mention a brand it's because it's all my own research and opinion.

If you are considering learning to sew, and are looking into courses then you need to think about this. Tilly Walnes from Tilly and the Buttons has released two new online classes, specifically for people who want to learn to sew. The whole point of these classes is that you don't need to travel anywhere, and you will be guided through everything you need to know to get started as a dressmaker. Level 1 is titled 'Make Friends with a Sewing Machine' and costs £25. It covers the basics of setting up and operating a machine, as well as giving some troubleshooting tips and advice. Level 2 'Learn to Sew Skirts' costs £45 and includes a downloadable skirt pattern with step by step tutorials in constructing one of two possible garments. Both courses are based on those run in the London workshops, with the advantage of being able to be completed anywhere, at any time.

Have you been inspired to start sewing but aren't sure where to start? I really wanted to take up dress making as a hobby for a long time but wasn't sure how to go about getting started. I didn't want to invest in a machine if I was awful at it... and wouldn't know want to do with it in any case. I wanted someone to show me how to use a machine and how to understand patterns so that I could make my own clothes. I did a lot of searching on the internet and finally found the classes that The Thrifty Stitcher runs in North London. I signed up for the Ultimate Beginners Day Sewing Package which combines two half day workshops into one day's learning (10.30am - 6pm) for £94.

The Bettine Dress is perfect for beginner sewists like me...it's easy enough to put together that you can produce a very wearable garment fairly quickly. The dress features a tulip skirt and options to add sleeve tabs or pockets. It doesn't have any fastenings like zips or darts to worry about either! I bought the pattern on sale ages ago (subscribing to the TATB newsletter) and have been waiting for some summer like weather to inspire me in what to make it with. I was actually set off by a sponsored ad on Facebook that popped up for an online store. I saw their dresses and realised that I could make something similar (or better even!) using the Bettine pattern...I did alter it a little to get there but it was worth it. This is definitely in the success story category!!

It is one year ago now that I began my adventures in sewing....and this is most of what I have made in that time! In my opinion not bad at all, and I have really enjoyed learning a new skill. I have attended four workshops over the year (one was online from the comfort of my home), bought three sewing books and acres of fabric. There have been times when I've been confused or frustrated but along with my unpicker I have found a brilliant community of crafty sewists who love to share advice and inspiration, helping to guide me along the way. Here's my year in review: what I've loved, loathed, learned, and would tell anyone starting out themselves...

Dearest readers
In honour of this year's Me Made May I pledge the following:

I, Laura from http://www.thepetitepassions.comand @petitepassions, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '16. I endeavour to wear at least one me made item every week for the duration of May 2016, from my small but growing handmade wardrobe. I will be devoting my blog to solely sewing related posts throughout May too.

This month also sees the start of the new series of the Great British Sewing Bee, and marks my first whole year of dressmaking, so be prepared to see lots of posts about learning to sew and beginning this journey, as well as joining in all this May makery. I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody creates and shares in this time so give me a shout out on social media to share yours too!

Looking at the recipes from this blog it's pretty obvious that I like things that are fast and easy...the least amount of fiddling and washing up the better! That's one of the reasons I love this prawn linguine. It literally takes as long as pasta needs to cook from start to finish, and it tastes so good too. Now, unusually I've written this recipe for one person. That's because I only ever make this for myself if I happen to be eating alone (other half hates prawns but I love them). You may think the bacon is odd but it's one of those ingredients that you don't notice but gives a deep salty undertone to the sweetness of the other elements. I see this dish a lot in the ready meal aisles but seriously this is so quick and simple I don't see why you would need to buy it ready done (and it's cheaper this way too). You can obviously make this for more than one by multiplying up the quantities!

I am a fan of everything over on the Sew Over It website... the patterns, the fabric, the vlog. They also have two sewing cafes in London where they run
classes from for sewists, as well as sell fabrics and haberdashery items. I've been eager to try a number of classes and finally found one I could go to; the Poppy Playsuit. This is an intermediate skill level pattern, and the class I took was
run on one day in the Islington branch (10am-5pm). It cost £99, reduced
by 10% by signing up for the newsletter.

Gotta love a weekend brunch...croissants, bacon, eggs...all sorts of goodies. We have scrambled eggs every Saturday after our Park Run anyway but every now and again a more luxurious touch is a real treat. That's where this comes in...softly scrambled eggs on a toasted bagel with ribbons of sweet smoked salmon.

This Wren dress came into being mainly because I fell in love with a knit fabric and then had to find a way of wearing it. I saw a beautiful viscose fabric from The Splendid Stitch for £11.20 per metre. I immediately ordered two metres before looking around for a pattern. Once the
fabric arrived I decided to look for a wrap dress because it draped so
beautifully. I was very tempted by Named’s Olivia, Hot Pattern’s Weekender and
Sew Over It’s Ultimate Wrap Dress…..until the Wren came out. The key feature
that attracted me to the Wren was the faux wrap structure. I have found that
wrap dress can be liable to slip or gape on my frame and having a faux bodice
would help eliminate this issue. I went for Version 2 of the dress with sleeves and a gathered skirt. It turned out to be a good move as this dress was easy to construct and wears really well.

We love Pizza,whether it's homemade, take away or in a pizzeria. I saw this Chicago style on TV recently and decided to have a go at my own version. This style of pizza has a lot more sauce, topping and cheese, but the way the pizza is shaped means you can hold all this deliciousness in one place. I make individual portions for the two of us when we are really hungry (usually after a Parkrun on a Saturday) and sausage with chilli is our favourite style. Here's what you need and what to do in order to bake your own Chicago style pizzas at home.

Since I first started sewing I have read a lot online from other sewists' blogs and communities like The Fold Line. The Anna Dress appears everywhere and seems to be a staple for summer wardrobes. Many reviews have talked about how easy this dress is to make so this looked like an obvious project to add to the list. So with spring on its way here we go....

This is one of the speediest dinners I know...and it tastes good too! This is the basic version; you can add chicken, prawns or more vegetables like peppers or peas too. All you need are some key ingredients for an authentic flavour. have everything ready to go - this recipe moves fast!

I've spent a lot of time poking around the Sew Over It website since I started sewing. I keep an eye in case a class is scheduled that I can attend, and I have looked around the online shop for fabric and patterns....never bought anything though. I certainly made up for it when I attended the Knit and Stitch show at Alexandra Palace! I bought couple of patterns and fabric from Lisa at the Sew Over It stall, inspired by the demo garments on show (and I am super groupie happy that she signed this one for me!). There are two versions that you can select - Version 1 has a keyhole opening and Version 2 has a V neck style. I chose version 2 for my blouse. It's taken me a while to get around to this but here it is!

Who doesn't love a night away for a recharging and relaxing treat? For us Luton Hoo is one of our favourite places to eat and to stay so we booked ourselves a post Valentines stay for one night. We were fortunate in that we were able to stay in the Lady Butter Suite in the Mansion House, and this made our stay very enjoyable.

Luton Hoo is a historic stately home with a history of hosting aristocrats and royals, until more recent years when it has been converted to a luxurious hotel with golf and spa facilities. The grounds and mansion house have also been used in a number of films; our room was featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Dining options include afternoon teas, fine dining in the Wernher Restaurant and a relaxed atmosphere in Adam's Brasserie. Rooms are set in the flower gardens, in the parklands and in the mansion house itself.

My third ever garment! Having given one of Tilly's patterns a successful go with my Delphine skirt I was inspired to try another of hers ... the Francoise dress. This involved learning how to create darts and use bias binding as my new skills. This pattern is definitely for beginner sewists who are eager to to make wearable garments; it is easy to sew and there are so many different ways you can vary this pattern with different fabrics.

Hi, I'm Laura. Welcome to my journeys with modern, feminine dressmaking; pattern reviews, tips and guides for beginners. I'm a lifelong foodie, so you'll also find some delicious recipes and places to get that foodie fix.